In response to your recent
correspondence requesting help in resolving the question: "Why were the
Vietnam Veterans never awarded any type of Air Mobile or Air Assault Badge
(AAB) when the division changed over from Airborne in 196$?"

There is nothing being done
to award Vietnam Veterans the AAB. The issue of awarding the AAB to former
members of the 101 st Airborne
Division (Air Assault) has been extensively reviewed and rejected by the
Department of the Army.

A letter from U. S. Total
Army Personnel Command dated September 19, 1995, to an
individual adresssing the same issue sated:

"During the Vietnam period, a
defacto AAB was awarded to members of
the 101 st Airborne Division based upon six months honorable service in the
Division However, the current AAB is awarded only after completion of a very demanding and challenging course of
instruction with intense training and testing. When the criteria for the AAB
was being established, the feasibility of authv.t‑tg retroactive awards
to forwer members of the air assault units was considered and rejected. The
Army determined that there was no substantive basis to favorably consider such
a course of action.

"Considering the significant
difference in the standards during the Vietnam era to be awarded the AAB and
the current criteria, a retroactive award of the AAB to members of the
101st Airborne Division would create an inequity for some soldiers and result
in an inconsistent application of awards policy to the group of soldiers you
seek to honor."

Headquarters, Department of
the Army makes policy concerning all award issues. They are the proponent
to the military awards regulation governing the AAB. Any questions concerning
award of the AAB to former Vietnam Veterans of the Division should be sent to
the address listed below

Commander

U.S.
Total Army Personnel Command

2461
Eisenhower Ave,

AWN:
TAPC‑PDA

Alexandria,
VA 22332‑0471

Basic eligibility criteria for award
of the Air Assault Badge is satisfactory con4;leticn of sa air assault training
course according to the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command
(TRADOC), standardized Air Assault Core Prognun of Insduction or the standard
air assault course while assigned or attached to the 101 st Airborne Division
(Air Assault) since I April 1974.

This is an interim response to your May
29, 1998, letter concerning the retroactive awarding of the Air Assault Badge
(AA8) to soldiers who performed Air Assault Operations with the 101st Airborne
Division during the Vietnam Conflict

This case will take extensive study and
research and several months to complete. You will be informed of the results of
our research and decision, once completed.

This
responds to your letter of December 6, 1998, concerning retroactively awarding
the Air Assault Badge to veterans who served six months or more with the 101St
Airborne Division during the Vietnam Conflict.

The
Army recently completed a thorough review, in coordination with Headquarters,
101St Airborne Division (Air Assault), and the United States Army Training and
Doctrine Command, for retroactive award of the Air Assault Badge (AAB), which
was not favorably considered.

There
is no question that the 101 St Airborne Division, along with other divisions
who served in Vietnam, laid the foundation for today's Air Assault doctrine. In
fact, the 1 St Cavalry Division was the first division to extensively employ
Air Assault Operations in the La Drang Valley battle of November 14, 1965.
However, collectively speaking, the majority of soldiers who served in these
divisions never participated in Air Assault Operations. To retroactively award
the AAB to everyone who served in these divisions cannot be justified.
Furthermore, to attempt to identify and recognize those soldiers who did
participate in Air Assault Operations, and retroactively award the AAB, is not
feasible.

I
regret that my response is not favorably, but hope this information help to
clarify the Army's position on this matter.

Thank
you for the recent letter requesting my support for retroac­tive award of the Air
Assault Badge to Vietnam veterans. The many courageous contributions of the 101
st Airborne Division to achieving US objectives in Vietnam are well recognized.
Unfortunately, however, responsibility for determination of merit for unit
awards rests with the US Army. To that end, a copy of your letter has been
forwarded to the Army for consideration.

Your
service to the Vietnam veterans is deeply appreciated. With best wishes,

This
is in response to your March 7, 2000 email message to the Secretary of Defense
concerning retroactive award of the Air Assault Badge.

There
is little we can add to our previous response concerning retroactive award of
the Air Assault Badge. There are no historical files to substantiate that air
assault training was conducted in Vietnam. A copy of the 101St Airborne
Division Historian's review is enclosed. Therefore, retroactive award of the
badge is not authorized.

I
regret that this response cannot be more favorable. If I can provide you any
future assistance, please contact me.

This
responds to your May 6, 1999 letter to the Secretary of the Army concerning
retroactive award of the Air Assault Badge. As proponent for the Military
Awards Program, Army‑wide, your letter was referred to this office for
review and reply.

There
is little we can add to our previous response to you concerning retroactive
award of the Air Assault Badge. The recent review revealed that the majority of
soldiers who served in the 101St Airborne and 1St Calvary Divisions never
participated in Air Assault operations. Therefore, there are no further plans
to study or consider this issue at this time.

I
regret that this response will not be to your satisfaction, but trust you
understand the position we have taken on this issue.

Sincerely,

Daniel B. Gibson

Lieutenant Colonel, GS

Chief, Military Awards Branch

DEPARTMENT OF
THE ARMY

U.S. TOTAL ARMY
PERSONNEL COMMAND

ALEXANDRIA,
V A

V 22332‑0471

‑

REPLY TO

ATTENTION OF‑• SEP 2 2 20013

Military
Awards Branch

Honorable
Christopher CoxRECEIVED

Representative
in CongressSEP 2 8 2000

ATTN:
Lisa Dillon

One
Newport Place, Suite 420HON.
COX CA OFFICE

Newport
Beach, CA 92660

Dear
Mr. Cox:.

This is in response to your
letter of August 22, 2000, on behalf of your constituent, Mr. Guy C. Lamunyon,
concerning the retroactive award of the Air Assault Badge to any individual who
participated in at least one combat air assault prior to April 1, 1974. Your
letter was forwarded to this office, the proponent for the Army's Awards and
Decorations Program, for reply.

This issue has been reviewed
and addressed on numerous occasions by the Total Army Personnel Command, the
101 st Airborne Division (Air Assault)/Fort Campbell (the Army's proponent for
the Air Assault Badge) and the Training and Doctrine Command. After a thorough
review, it was concluded that retroactive award of the Air Assault Badge would
be inappropriate because it would be impossible to verify individual
eligibility based on Mr. Lamunyon's proposal that every soldier that
participated in at least one combat air assault should be eligible for the
badge. Current Army policy regulation authorizes award of the Air Assault Badge
to any soldier who satisfactorily completes an air assault training course
according to the Training and Doctrine Command standardized Air Assault Core
Program of Instruction, or completes the air assault course wile assigned or
attached to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) after April 1, 1974.

I trust the information
provided is helpful. Thank you for your interest in the Army's Awards Program.
We appreciate your support of our veterans and the men and women serving in our
Army today.

Sincerely,

Russell
J. Maziarka

Colonel,
U.S. Army`

Chief, Personnel Service

Support Division

CHRISTOPHER
COX2402 RAYBURN BUILDING

('.1WASHINGTON,
DC 20515‑0547

CALIFORNIA;;,o°`~' ,~(202) 225‑5611

CHAIRMAN:

ONE NEWPORT PLACE

POLICY COMMITTEE

SUITE 420

CHAIRMAN:NEWPORT
BEACH, CA 92660

SELECT COMMITTEE ON(949) 756‑2244

U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY AND

MILITARY/COMMERCIAL
CONCERNS WITHCOMMERCE
COMMITTEE

THE PEOPLE'S
REPUBLIC OF CHINACongress of the United
StatesSUBCOMMITTEES ON:

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TRADE

HOUSE LEADERSHIPAND CONSUMER PROTECTION

STEERING COMMITTEEHouse of Representatives

FINANCE AND HAZARDOUS

COMMERCE COMMITTEEMATERIALS

OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS

September
28, 2000

Mr. Guy C.Lamunyon

23 Poplar Drive

Aliso Viejo, California 92656

Dear
Guy:

As you know, at your request, I
contacted the Department

of the Army in your behalf.I have just received their

response and am forwarding it directly
to you.

If my office can be of further assistance
or answer any additional questions concerning this matter, please do not
hesitate to call Steve Digerlando of my Orange County staff. In addition,
please let us know if we may again be of assistance to you on any other subject
in the future.

It
has been a privilege to represent you in this matter.

Sincerely,

Christoper Cox

U. S. Representative

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------,~DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

tl/

U.S. TOTAL ARMY PERSONNEL COMMAND~~

ALEXANDRIA, VA

‑22332‑0471w°'"°"'"""

REPLY TO

ATTENTION OF

November
15, 2000

Military Awards Branch

Mr. Guy C. Lamunyon

101 st Airborne Division Vietnam
Veterans

23 Poplar Drive

Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

Dear
Mr. Lamunyon:

This
is in response to your letter of October 20, 2000, concerning your desire for a
change to Army Regulation 600‑8‑22 (Military Awards) to authorize
wear of the Air Assault Badge by any individual who has participated in at
least one combat air assault prior to April 1, 1974.

Current
Army policy authorizes award of the Air Assault Badge to any soldier who
satisfactorily completes an air assault training course according to the
Training and Doctrine Command standardized Air Assault Core Program of
Instruction, or completes the air assault course while assigned or attached to
the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) after April 1, 1974. The Department
of the Army proponent for the Air Assault Badge has no plans to change the
criteria for award or wearing of the badge.

This
is in response to your letter of December 13, 2000, concerning information on
the proponent for the Air Assault Badge.

The
proponent for the Air Assault Badge is the Air Assault School at Fort Campbell,
Kentucky.

Thank
you for your interest in the Army's Awards Program.

Sincerely,

1

v Laurel D. Cunnane

Lieutenant
Colonel, U.S. Army

Chief,
Military Awards Branch

HEADQUARTERS

101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION (AIR ASSAULT) AND
FORT CAMPBELL

CHIEF OF STAFF

FORT CAMPBELL, KENTUCKY 42223‑6627

Mr. Guy C. Lamunyon

Dear Sir,

Attached is a copy of
General Order 179 issued ­by MG
Berry from 1974
that you
requested.

MG Berry's memo lays out specific criteria for award
of the award of the badge.

I recommend that if you feel you meet the
requirements specified in the memo that you send a personal request to the
Commanding General, 101St ABN DIV (AASLT) and make your case for award of the
badge. If MG Cody finds merit in the request, he can consider awarding you the
badge as he is the approval authority.

The Army has never
conducted a study in reference to the issue you mentioned

below. Currently,
the Air Assault Parity Coalition, has submitted a

request to have a
representative of PERSCOM attend a stakeholders meeting to

discuss the
retroactive award of the Air Assault Badge to Vietnam Airmobile

combat veterans.

SSG Shwanda M.
Mizner

NCO Policy Section

Military A wards
Branch, PSSD, T AGD

HQ, PERSCOM

Original Message
From: BOB HETTIGER [mailto:BOBHETTIGER@rnsn.com]

Sent: Saturday,
February 15,20037:44 AM

To: Mizner,
Shwanda, PERSCOM

Subject: Air
Assault Badge

Dear Shwanda, thank
you very much for the information, that you sent

me.It means a lot
to me, that you care about, helping veterans. I belong to

a, group known as,
the Air Assault Parity Coalition. Tills organization is

trying to get a
retroactive awarding, of the Air Assault Badge, to Vietnam Combat veterans
who, participated in air assault operations in Vietnam. I

understand that the
Military A wards Branch, did a study, around 1995. The study was about, the
feasibility of the retroactive awarding of the ,Air Assault Badge, to Veterans
of Vietnam. I would like to get a copy of this report if possible. I would
like to thank you again Shwanda, for your help. You are a credit to the Army.